Information handling system low profile keyboard
View Patent ↗A portable information handling system keyboard extends and retracts keys of a keyboard based upon one or more predetermined conditions, such as a power on command, a power off command and a rotational position of a housing lid and main portion. A nickel titanium alloy wire actuates retraction and/or extension of keyboard keys with application of a current to the wire.
1. A portable information handling system comprising:
a housing having an upper surface;
a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions to process information;
a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the information;
a display disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor and memory, the display operable to present the information as visual images;
a keyboard disposed at the upper surface, the keyboard having plural keys that move perpendicular to the upper surface to accept end user inputs;
a support disposed in the housing and coupled to the keyboard, the support movable parallel to the upper surface between an extended position having the keys extended out of the upper surface and a retracted position having the keys retracted within the upper surface;
a nickel titanium alloy wire coupled to the housing and the support; and
a current controller operable to selectively provide current to the nickel titanium alloy wire, the current heating the wire, the heat shortening the nickel titanium alloy wire to move the support to one of the extended and retracted positions, the retracted position altering the keyboard key height to below the housing upper surface.
2. The portable information handling system of claim 1 further comprising first and second nickel titanium alloy wires, the first nickel titanium alloy wire shortening responsive to current to move the support to the retracted position, the second nickel titanium alloy wire shortening responsive to current to move the support to the extended position.
3. The portable information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a spring biasing support opposite the movement provided by the shortening.
4. The portable information handling system of claim 3 further comprising a position lock coupled to the housing and engaged with the support by movement responsive to the shortening.
5. The portable information handling system of claim 4 wherein the position lock comprises a magnet.
6. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a main portion rotationally coupled to a lid portion, the display integrated in the lid portion, the keyboard integrated in the main portion.
7. The portable information handling system of claim 6 wherein the current controller moves the support to the retracted position when the angle between the lid portion and main portion is greater than a predetermine amount and less than a predetermined amount.
8. The portable information handling system of claim 7 wherein the current controller is further operable to move the support to the retracted position at power off of the information handling system.
9. A method for adjusting portable information handling system keyboard keys between extended and retracted positions, the method comprising:
detecting a predetermined condition at the portable information handling system;
in response to the predetermined condition, applying a current to a nickel titanium alloy wire, the current shortening the wire length; and
moving a keyboard component with the shortening the wire length, the moving keyboard component altering the keyboard height relative to a housing upper surface of the portable information handling system.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined condition comprises actuation of a power button to change a power state of the portable information handling system.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein:
actuating a power button further comprises turning power on at the portable information handling system; and
moving a keyboard component further comprises extending the keys from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position outside the housing.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein locking further comprises engaging a magnet associated with the keyboard to an attracting element.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein:
actuating a power button further comprises turning power off at the portable information handling system; and
moving a keyboard component further comprises retracting the keys from an extended position outside the housing to a retracted position within the housing.
14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
biasing the keyboard component opposite the moving;
locking the keyboard in position after the moving; and
releasing the locking responsive to a predetermined condition, the releasing biasing the keyboard component to return to an original position.